CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The Coe College football team extended its win streak to three games with a 10-7 victory over Simpson on Saturday afternoon. The result moves Coe to 6-2 overall and 5-1 in the American Rivers Conference with just two regular-season games remaining. Both teams struggled offensively but the Coe defense shined, recording three interceptions while holding Simpson to just 2-6 on fourth down conversions. Logan Rickard led the defense, recording 11 total tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack, and 1 interception. Cody Russell had 21 carries, rumbling for 115 yards. 
 
Coe won the coin toss but elected to differ and start on the defensive side of the ball. The teams battled it out in the first quarter but neither team mustered any points. Simpson, who had possession for 10-plus minutes in the quarter, picked up five first downs but the Coe defense stepped up with three fourth down stops to keep the game scoreless. On offense, Coe ran just 12 plays while picking up 11-yards. 
 
The second quarter opened with the Kohawks on the move. On third-and-nine at his own 29-yard line, Quentin White hooked up with Max Teeple for a 15-yard completion and a first down to continue the drive. 11 plays and 56-yards later, the Kohawks cashed in with a touchdown pass from Quentin White to Matt Kopp. Simpson took over on its own 24-yard line on the ensuing possession but just seven plays later punted it back to Coe. 
 
On the next drive, Quentin White manufactured a drive down to the Simpson 30-yard line but he threw an interception on second and seven, giving the Storm possession with 3:54 left in the half. Simpson advanced the ball down to the Coe 42-yard line on its possession but an interception by Logan Rickard on third and nine gave the ball back to the Kohawks who continued to lead. Coe's drive began with 1:53 left in the second quarter and despite an early first down ended with a punt back to Simpson as the first-half clock expired.
 
The Coe defense excelled in the first half against the league's leading rusher, Joe Meyer and the league's leading receiver, Sam Bartlett. The Kohawks held Meyer to just 51-yards on 15 carries while shutting out Bartlett in the first half.
 
Coe opened the second half with the ball and moved into Simpson territory but an interception interrupted the drive and gave the Storm possession. Simpson took over on its own 40-yard line with 12:19 remaining and picked up three first downs in the first six plays to move into the red zone. On second and eight, Hunter Semelroth intercepted a pass intended for Bartlett in the endzone for Coe's second pick of the day. 
 
With 10 minutes left in the third Coe took over but a three-and-out gave it back to the Storm with 8:32 on the clock. Simpson took over in plus field position at the Coe 43-yard line but the defense continued to calm the Storm, forcing a three-and-out and a punt. 
 
Coe regained possession on its own six-yard line and advanced the ball to Simpson's 40-yard line but a failed third down conversion forced an Evan Ellis punt. After a touchback, the Storm marched the field and were set up with a first and ten inside the Coe 15-yard line. Joe Meyer handled the first and second down work, gaining four-yards to set up third and six. Coe came up with another stop on third down as Tanner Krueger's pass intended for Cole Scott was broken up by AJ Christensen. The third down stop forced a 25-yard field goal attempt that hit the left upright as Coe's shutout remained intact with 25 seconds to play in the third quarter. 
 
On the ensuing possession, Coe faced a third and eight but Quentin White found Teeple again, this time for 25-yards and a first down to keep the drive moving. Later that drive the Kohawks had another third-and-long but White's pass was intercepted by Simpson and returned to the Coe eight-yard line with 12:20 to play. Two plays later, Jacob Elsbury came up with a huge interception in the endzone to turn the Storm over and keep them off the board.
 
Taking over at its own 20, Coe had the ball and a seven-point lead. The Kohawks then went on a 16 play, 71-yard field goal drive that took over eight minutes off the clock. Coe leaned on running back Cody Russell on the drive as he had 10 attempts including a huge fourth-and-one conversion at Simpson's 43-yard line. Coe led 10-0 after Tristan Connell's 26-yard field goal with 2:40 remaining. 
 
Simpson went in hurry-up mode on the ensuing drive and scored a touchdown on a seven play, 71-yard drive that took just 1:05 off the clock. Following the extra point, the Storm trailed by just three and after a successful onside kick, controlled the ball again with 1:35 left to play. Simpson advanced the ball to its own 49-yard line but an incomplete pass on fourth and six ended the comeback attempt. 
 
Up Next: The Kohawks hit the road to take on conference-leading Wartburg on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Waverly. 
 
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